Match book



J. VAN BECK Nov. 19, 1940.

MATCH BOOK 7 Filed April 7, 1939 INVENTOR 2/0 MW 550% ATTO R N EY invention relates Patented Nov. 19, 1940 I IMATCH Book'- I John .Van Beck,New I Appucanona r m,1939;sefi nqzesncr .1 can; (01.20.6 20 v A cijciurseithat a seemingly narrow contribution is I in' this art, exceedingly important and of'considto a match book 'ofih'e type in common usage today.

For many years, those skilled in this art have been attempting to devise a match book in which certain advantages will be inherent. Thus, considerable effort has been applied to the development of a match book in which, when one match is ignited, there will not be present the dangerof igniting the remaining matches. Much effort has also been spent on devising a match book in which the igniting material will be protected against wetting and abrasion.

Those skilled in the art have also applied considerable thought to the development of a match book in which, should one or more of the match books be placed in a pocket with the igniting ends of the matches exposed, there will be no danger of the igniting material on the match books-rubbing against the matches and causing a fire within the pocket.

While it is true that the art has developed constructions which will yield many of the results above outlined, the various prior art structures.

have not generally been devised with sufficient consideration of the matter of cost. It is a well known fact that match books chased by the consumer, but are given away by advertisers of various materials. Naturally, those advertisers arewilling to spend only a minimum amount of money on each match book, and are unwilling to expend such extra moneys as. are

necessary to provide the additional features dis-' cussed by me supra. It is for this reason, undoubtedly, that none of the commercial match books which have come to my attention include 'those features which are "disclosed. in the prior art patents, and those features which are inherently part of my invention to be described hereinafter. L

In the match book of my invention, I believe that I contribute to the art those features which have been sought by the art for many years, while at the same time. utilizing a construction which is simple, is easy to manufacture, and is adapted to be produced at a cost which is'but insignificantly greater than the cost of present day commercial match books.

Allusion has been made to the prior art and to commercial match books in order that the contribution which I have made to theart may be viewed in its true light and be best appreciated, it being apparent, of course, that my contribution is necessarily narrow because of the high the history of the art, it will be appreciated, of

are seldom pur-.

may apply this igniting material at 20 erable breadth. In view of-thispI do-not wishto be limited in my monopoly except as may be. re-

. quired by the state of the art.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a persp-ective view showing my invention in its assembled form, and with the cover flap of my. match book shown in release position. Fig. 2

is a section along lines 2--2 of Fig. l, but with 10 the cover flap in locked or covering position. Fig. 3 shows the manner in which my invention is utilized. Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I shall refer to the matches of my book as 15 the match assembly, this match assembly being designated by reference numeral l0, and including a series of matches I each having igniting heads l2. The match assembly is well known in the art and varies in no important particular 2 from that art.

The usual rather heavy paper which forms the match book cover, I term my book cover, and in order to assist me in describing and claiming my invention, I term that portion of the cover desig- 25 I cover designated by reference numeral 15, the 30 back cover.

It is very readily noted that the back cover is folded as at Hi and I! to produce the flap 3.

The flap l8, together with the portion IQ of the backcover l5, form what I term a fold, and on 35.

the inside surfaces of the fold, as is designated by reference numerals 20 and 2|, I place igniting material of the type usually used in this art. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatI' or at 2|, 40 or at both 20 and 2|, as I may deem fit.

A single staple 23 passes through the front cover, the match assembly, the'portion |9 of the back coverfold, and those portions of the back cover forming the flap l8. I

The front cover is formed as shown at 22 in order that there may be a greater surface cooperation between it and the cover flap l3, whereby the cover flap l3 may be held in the position of Fig. 2 and the dotted line position of Fig. 1 when 50 the match book is not in use. In actual use, the match to be ignited is rubbed on surfaces 20 or .2|, .or between surfaces 20 and 2|, as shown in state of the development of the arts In view of Fig, 3. The unused matches, beingon the reverse that the igniting material at "i and 2| is always protected from the weather and from accidental rubbing against other matchesin the pocket.

Reviewing the invention, it will be noted that I use but one staple, as is common in this art, and preferably, I use but one piece of material for forming the cover. If I wish, I may use but one surface of igniting material, so thatin the end, the only greater cost inherent in producing my invention will be the cost of the two lengths of material formin the flap it. Since it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the material constituting the flap It will cost little, ything, my final match book may be sold at standard match book the advantages desired by the art and which are outlined by me elsewhere in; this specification. Those advantages need not be; again recited here, it is thought, and will be fully appreciated by those skilled in the art.

, match book, as is g apparent from Fig. 3 showing and igniting material on juxtaposed surfaces comprising the inner sur- I now claim:

A match book comprising a match assembly. and a cover for said assembly embodying a cover flap covering the ignition tips of the matches of said match assembly, a back cover continuing from said cover flap to the lower edge of the match assembly, and then folded upwardly on itself to form a flap on the back cover and then downwardly about the base of the match assembly and then upwardly over the front of the ,match assembly and continuing upwardly as the front cover to a predetermined point, a staple passing through the front cover, the match assembly and the flap forming portion on said back cover, said staple functioning to hingedly connect .the said back flap to the match assembly, at least one of the two face of said flap and the surface of that portion of the back cover which is covered by said back flap. JOHN VAN BECK. 

